The risks are known - there are several independent reports out there yet the unions continue to advise member not to return to work. These are kids and young people you will never create the 100% safe environment that the unions are requesting until you get a vaccine. So what is the solution - its simple really - you accept the risk, minimise them wherever possible and get back to educating children - if you are not prepared to do that then perhaps a career change is for you?

So, where's the evidence that the unions are demanding a 100% safe environment?
- and whilst were at it, wheres the evidence that this government knows what they are doing wrt the virus?

Indeed, teachers (and their unions) seem to be forgetting that mpst parents work, so who looks after the kids during the day?

As tragic as every death is, it has been less than 1% of the population, we are better equipped now with social distancing and other measures, kids have precious little to look forward to in later life without a decent education, denying them that for some political upstaging is immoral.

Doctors, Nurses, Porters, Paramedics, Police, Fire, Armed Forces, Coastguard, RNLI and countless others (Supermarket Workers, Bank Staff) risk themselves in their roles, why are teachers a special case?

We need to get used to the fact that Covid is here to stay, and adapt.

The opening of schools in the US has not gone too well but why should that be the same for us because we have the in depth planning of the Johnson government.

Let's start with the EIS a quote from Larry Flannagan

"Even with full implementation of the guidelines and its mitigations, many teachers and parents will be understandably nervous about a return to the classroom"

What does that say - it says even full implementation - its not enough - go figure?

Patrick Roach - NASUWT
"He also says teachers will not return to their jobs unless the Government affords them the same employment rights as other key workers "

Would you like some more direct quotes?

Most of Europe have kids back in school - France has had them back for months - they were no better prepared than us.

Yes they do but they don’t have Johnson in charge whose track record is more Trump with his lack of planning.

:15gaob7v


However research trumps your suggestions.

The times states that the research shows secondary schools pass it on like adults

Secondary school pupils are likely to transmit coronavirus as easily as adults, according to official research used by ministers to argue that it is safe for all children to return to class next month.
Scientists at Public Health England (PHE) believe that tougher rules are likely to be needed for older children, despite finding that primary pupils do not seem to pass the virus to each other.
Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, said yesterday that a study being conducted by PHE of thousands of pupils who returned to schools in June showed that there was little risk in government plans for all children to be back in the classroom for the new academic year next month.
However, The Times understands that researchers working on the study are unhappy with the way ministers have used the findings, which have not been fully analysed. The preliminary results do suggest that primary schools pose little danger, with only six positive tests out of 9,000 tested so far. These cases were not linked to each other and contact tracing suggested that the children had caught the virus from their parents or other carers outside school.
This morning Edward Argar, the health minister, admitted the PHE research among secondary pupils was “still work in progress”.
He told Sky News: “I think we should be cautious about reading too much into that work in progress, it’s important work but it isn’t complete yet.”
He insisted, however, that plans to reopen schools would continue as planned school children are at risk is if a child brings it into the school from home. Importantly, it does not seem to work the other way around.”

There are no studies as yet that positively identify U16 present a greater risk to teachers? This covers 90+% of school children - let's start with them shall we?

Yes there is as leaked above but the government appear to want to cherry pick those parts that fit their strategy prior to its official publication because they never quote on leaks. It is possible for anyone to say anything is good to do this but always remember it is Johnson in charge and his planning can be somewhat nonexistent.
We are still waiting for the care bill he said he had ready when first elected leader.

Really ??

If the under 16's are so unlikely to pass on the virus, how come granny and gramps weren't allowed to see them or to look after them.
It would have to be a very cruel government that prevented families meeting or helping with childcare if there was so little risk.
And why is it that child care was shut down ?

My granddaughters child care hasn't been shut down neither has the childcare at the hospital where my daughter in law works.

The risk to older people is their own vulnerability - not sure we have many over 70s teachers - I could be wrong?

How many teachers have been infected due to teaching in those schools that were open through the early days of the pandemic?